Open for special occasions and events. Please check Facebook and this web site for opening announcements.
To make arrangements for group tours call 706 695-4313. For rentals call 706 695-4416.
Chair: Dale Lowman
Painting Collection on Exhibit at
Historic Wright Hotel in Chatsworth
When she was left a young widow with seven children to raise, Nannie Lou Brewer Arthur simply went to painting! Though she had no formal training, Mrs. Arthur had a positive attitude, tremendous faith, and a natural talent that allowed her to not only support her family but to continue painting at her Cisco home for four decades.
Several members of her family have recently donated a collection of her paintings to the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society. These paintings will be on display at the Historic Wright Hotel in Chatsworth beginning with a noontime exhibition on Saturday, December 4. The public is invited to attend the free, hour-long tour preceding the Polar Express event at the nearby Chatsworth Depot and Caboose.
Mrs. Arthur was born in 1904, the daughter of Clifford and Maude Brewer of Crandall. Seasonal nature scenes and still-lifes were the usual subjects of her paintings, but she also did religious scenes such as Christ in the Garden. Examples of all are included in the collection displayed at the Wright Hotel. She and her children walked many miles around the county selling her artwork. She sold the famous Blair household products as well--but also raised a large garden to help feed her family.
Mr. Gordon Brewer, a nephew of Mrs. Arthur's initiated the project and provided funding for framing several pieces. The late Jane Arthur Pugmire, a daughter, and grand-daughter Gretchen Spearman also donated paintings along with Barbara Stafford Byrd, a Brewer niece. Marcia Kendrick, an artist and retired teacher who is a member of the historical society coordinated the exhibit.
The Wright Hotel will be decorated for Christmas and is available for rentals by calling Ralph Ausmus at 706-695-9808
Directions
Thomas Wright, the creator of the Wright Hotel, opened his once flourishing business in 1909. An influx of Northerners and Southerners alike flocked to the rural town of Chatsworth to drink the refreshing mineral waters, enjoy cool mountain breezes, and to dine on Southern-style cooking. Mr. Wright, a farmer, builder and architect, along with his cousin supervised the construction of the three-story hotel. Not only was it a hotel, but also the home of the Wright family, which included his wife and six children. Mr. Wright rented a brick plant for a year to make the rose colored bricks to build his hotel. The heart pine lumber need for construction was cut from his farm and aged for a year. The hotel has served many including jurors, school teachers, judges, politicians, and honeymooners.
Many historic displays and memorabilia can be viewed here such as the rock that is present at the bottom of the stairs—mail for the guests was placed under this rock, the 7-foot tub in which Mr. Wright was baptized, original furniture and Indian pottery and baskets. The hotel also houses a collection of nursing paraphernalia belonging to Kate Raine, daughter of Mr. Wright, who served as a nurse on the Indian reservations of the southwest. Hotel registers dating to the 1920s give a glimpse of those who stayed there while it was thriving business.
Mrs. Raine left the Wright Hotel to the historical society upon her death in 1986. The society promised to preserve and maintain the site as close as possible to its original condition. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Share Your Stories of the Wright Hotel
"While I was working at an open house at the Wright Hotel a lady came in with her daughter and granddaughters. She told them she had spent her honeymoon night at the hotel. I offered to look in the register book to see if we could find her name and there it was. We were all excited and I think the children looked at the hotel a little different." ~ Melissa Burchfield
Do you have a story passed down in your family about the time they might have spent at the Hotel? Or maybe you met and spent time with Mrs. Kate Wright Raines, the last family member to own the Hotel. The Wright Hotel Committee is looking for stories about the Wright Family and Hotel for a new book. Please send to Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, P.O. Box 6180, Dalton, GA 30722-6180.
